If this is your first Stafford, I highly recommend that you learn as much as possible about the breed. There are many good books that have been written about the Staffordshire Bull Terrier over the years. Some of these are difficult to find, but others are available through sources like
Amazon. For rare and out-of-print books, SBT Fun has a very good collection. For a quick snapshot of the breed, read Michele Welton’s article at: http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/staffordshirebullterriers.html
I always tell people that SBTs are not for everyone. This is not to discourage people, but to make them aware of some of the issues (both real and hyped by the media) involved in ownership of the bull and terrier breeds. SBTs require a high level of vigilance and responsibility on the part of their owners in order to ensure their lifelong well-being as well as owner satisfaction. Although generally good with kids, they are very strong for their size and often play boisterously, easily overwhelming younger children. They have a propensity to be aggressive with other animals and do NOT always live together in harmony with other family (or neighborhood) pets. For this reason, as well as for their own safety, they should never be allowed to roam freely or unsupervised. On the positive side, they are clean, compact, extremely athletic, healthy and hardy, courageous, fun-loving, and devoted. They are a "small" dog (actually 30-40 lbs., avg.) with the presence and attitude of a much larger animal. Because they crave human companionship and thrive on physical activity, they are not "low-maintenance" dogs. They demand an interactive relationship with their human family members and, if left to their own devices, they can be VERY destructive. I encourage everyone who inquires about purchasing a staffy to thoroughly research the breed before deciding on ownership.
Here are some links to other Staffy and related information sites:
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